A YOUNG child was left to live in squalor with no bed or toilet in a fly-infested Greenock home — with rubbish piled FOUR FEET high, the sheriff court has been told. 

Cheryl Burns admitted neglecting, abandoning and ill-treating the primary school-aged youngster in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health.

A sheriff has told the first offender that she 'clearly needs some support'.

The court heard how police found the child had no bedroom access and that blankets placed on top of rubbish in the living room were being used as a bed.

Burns, 44, has been convicted of failing to provide the child with a clean, habitable and safe dwelling.

She also failed to provide adequate sleeping, toileting and cleaning facilities, and failed to dispose of and store rubbish appropriately.

A procurator fiscal depute told how police and social workers had been contacted due to concern for the youngster.

The prosecutor said: "Police received information in relation to the condition of the home and attended [on January 26] to check on the welfare of the child.

"The child was at school, safe and well when social workers visited.

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"Officers entered the locus and traced the accused within, she was happy for them to take a look around the house.

"The home was in disarray with rubbish and clutter all over.

"Some rooms were filled with rubbish four feet high and bottles believed to contain urine.

"The bathroom was not working and the sink was full of rubbish and empty bottles.

Greenock Telegraph: Cheryl BurnsCheryl Burns (Image: George Munro)

"The cloakroom toilet was unusable due to piles of rubbish on top of the toilet."

The fiscal depute added: "The child had no access to the bedroom and no proper place to sleep.

"Blankets on top of rubbish were being used as a bed in the living room.

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"Several sticky fly catchers hanging from the ceiling were covered in dead flies."

Burns was later arrested and charged.

Sheriff Nicola Patrick said Burns 'is a lady who clearly needs some support'.

The sheriff told her: "This has no doubt been very difficult for you.

"This is a very serious matter but clearly something that built up over a period of time because you did not know how to access the correct means of support."

Burns was placed under the supervision of the criminal justice social work department for a year, and a review hearing to be held on November 15.